[Biochemical study of the human palmar aponeurosis under normal and pathological conditions]

Study of oxyproline content of the palmar aponeurosis connective tissue. The knowledge of the quantity of the above mentioned aminoacid, which is specific of collagen, is considered very important to define the nature of tissue present in Dupuytren's disease and to understand the metabolic defect. After a short bibliographic analysis of the matter, methods used for the examination of total oxyproline content (Kivirikko, 1967) are discussed. The result shows a marked increase of oxyproline proportionally to the pathological aspect of aponeurotical tissue of the hand. Two hypotheses are formulated: a) an increase of the proline-hydroxilase activity. b) a slow breakdown of collagen fibers.